Patents by Inventor Graham R. Lief
Graham R. Lief has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11945938Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a density from 0.92 to 0.955 g/cm3, a HLMI of less than 35 g/10 min, and a ratio of a number of short chain branches (SCBs) per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mz to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn in a range from 11.5 to 22. These polymers can have a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and a lower molecular weight (LMW) component, in which a ratio of a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the HMW component to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the LMW component is in a range from 10.5 to 22. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing an unbridged metallocene compound with an indenyl group having at least one halogen-substituted hydrocarbyl substituent with at least two halogen atoms, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2023Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Youlu Yu
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Patent number: 11859041Abstract: This disclosure provides new methods for the design and development of ethylene polymerization catalysts, including Group 4 metallocene catalysts such as zirconocenes, which are based on an improved ability to adjust co-monomer incorporation into the polymer. Computational analyses with and without dispersion corrections revealed that designing catalyst scaffolds which induce stabilizing non-covalent dispersion type interactions with incoming ?-olefin co-monomers can be used to modulate co-monomer selectivity into the polyethylene chain. Demonstrated herein is a lack of correlation of computed ??G‡ values against experimental ??G‡ values when the dispersion correction (D3BJ) was disabled, and B3LYP was used in the absence of Grimme's D3 dispersion and Becke-Johnson (BJ) dampening, but a correlation of computed against experimental ??G‡ with B3LYP+D3BJ, which are used to design new catalyst scaffolds.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Steven M. Bischof, Qing Yang, Orson L. Sydora, Graham R. Lief, Richard M Buck, Daniel H. Ess, Steven M. Maley
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Patent number: 11761120Abstract: Disclosed herein are high melt flow polypropylene homopolymers generally characterized by a melt flow rate ranging from 200 g/10 min to 3000 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn ranging from 2 to 5, and a peak melting point ranging from 138° C. to 151° C. These polypropylene homopolymers can be produced by catalyst systems containing a racemic ansa-bis(indenyl)zirconocene compound, an activator-support, and an organoaluminum co-catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke
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Publication number: 20230272197Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a density from 0.92 to 0.955 g/cm3, a HLMI of less than 35 g/10 min, and a ratio of a number of short chain branches (SCBs) per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mz to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn in a range from 11.5 to 22. These polymers can have a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and a lower molecular weight (LMW) component, in which a ratio of a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the HMW component to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the LMW component is in a range from 10.5 to 22. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing an unbridged metallocene compound with an indenyl group having at least one halogen-substituted hydrocarbyl substituent with at least two halogen atoms, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Youlu Yu
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Publication number: 20230192914Abstract: Methods for controlling the long chain branch content of ethylene homopolymers and copolymers produced in a polymerization process include the steps of contacting a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, a high LCB activator-support, and a low LCB activator-support to form a catalyst composition, contacting the catalyst composition with ethylene and an optional olefin comonomer in a polymerization reactor system under polymerization conditions to produce an ethylene polymer having a LCB content, and controlling the relative amount of the high LCB activator-support and the low LCB activator-support in the catalyst composition to adjust the LCB content of the ethylene polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Max P. McDaniel, Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Carlos A. Cruz, Yongwoo Inn, Jared Barr
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Publication number: 20230192909Abstract: Sulfated bentonite compositions are characterized by a total pore volume from 0.4 to 1 mL/g, a total BET surface area from 200 to 400 m2/g, and an average pore diameter from 55 to 100 Angstroms. The sulfated bentonite compositions also can be characterized by a d50 average particle size in a range from 15 to 50 µm and a ratio of d90/d10 from 3 to 15. The sulfated bentonite compositions can contain a sulfated bentonite and from 10 to 90 wt. % of colloidal particles, or the sulfated bentonite compositions can contain a sulfated bentonite and from 0.2 to 10 mmol/g of zinc and/or phosphorus. These compositions can be utilized in metallocene catalyst systems to produce ethylene based polymers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2022Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Max P. McDaniel, Qing Yang, Ryan N. Rose, Kathy S. Clear, Graham R. Lief, Eric D. Schwerdtfeger, Anand Ramanathan, Jeremy M. Praetorius, Connor D. Boxell
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Patent number: 11667777Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a density from 0.92 to 0.955 g/cm3, a HLMI of less than 35 g/10 min, and a ratio of a number of short chain branches (SCBs) per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mz to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn in a range from 11.5 to 22. These polymers can have a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and a lower molecular weight (LMW) component, in which a ratio of a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the HMW component to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the LMW component is in a range from 10.5 to 22. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing an unbridged metallocene compound with an indenyl group having at least one halogen-substituted hydrocarbyl substituent with at least two halogen atoms, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Youlu Yu
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Publication number: 20230098789Abstract: This disclosure provides new methods for the design and development of ethylene polymerization catalysts, including Group 4 metallocene catalysts such as zirconocenes, which are based on an improved ability to adjust co-monomer incorporation into the polymer. Computational analyses with and without dispersion corrections revealed that designing catalyst scaffolds which induce stabilizing non-covalent dispersion type interactions with incoming ?-olefin co-monomers can be used to modulate co-monomer selectivity into the polyethylene chain. Demonstrated herein is a lack of correlation of computed ??G‡ values against experimental ??G‡ values when the dispersion correction (D3BJ) was disabled, and B3LYP was used in the absence of Grimme's D3 dispersion and Becke-Johnson (BJ) dampening, but a correlation of computed against experimental ??G‡ with B3LYP+D3BJ, which are used to design new catalyst scaffolds.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LPInventors: Steven M. Bischof, Qing Yang, Orson L. Sydora, Graham R. Lief, Richard M. Buck, Daniel H. Ess, Steven M. Maley
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Publication number: 20210395413Abstract: Disclosed are metallocene compounds, catalyst compositions comprising at least one metallocene compound, processes for polymerizing olefins, methods for making catalyst compositions, olefin polymers and articles made from olefin polymers. In an aspect, a metallocene compound and catalyst composition are disclosed in which the metallocene contains at least one indenyl ligand, the indenyl ligand containing at least one halogenated substituent, such as a fluorinated substituent. These metallocene compounds and catalyst compositions can produce polyethylene having unexpectedly low levels of short chain branching.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Eric J. Haschke
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Patent number: 11186665Abstract: Disclosed are metallocene compounds, catalyst compositions comprising at least one metallocene compound, processes for polymerizing olefins, methods for making catalyst compositions, olefin polymers and articles made from olefin polymers. In an aspect, a metallocene compound and catalyst composition are disclosed in which the metallocene contains at least one indenyl ligand, the indenyl ligand containing at least one halogenated substituent, such as a fluorinated substituent. These metallocene compounds and catalyst compositions can produce polyethylene having unexpectedly low levels of short chain branching.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Eric J. Haschke
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Publication number: 20210147661Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a density from 0.92 to 0.955 g/cm3, a HLMI of less than 35 g/10 min, and a ratio of a number of short chain branches (SCBs) per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mz to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn in a range from 11.5 to 22. These polymers can have a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and a lower molecular weight (LMW) component, in which a ratio of a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the HMW component to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the LMW component is in a range from 10.5 to 22. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing an unbridged metallocene compound with an indenyl group having at least one halogen-substituted hydrocarbyl substituent with at least two halogen atoms, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Youlu Yu
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Publication number: 20210102017Abstract: Disclosed are metallocene compounds, catalyst compositions comprising at least one metallocene compound, processes for polymerizing olefins, methods for making catalyst compositions, olefin polymers and articles made from olefin polymers. In an aspect, a metallocene compound and catalyst composition are disclosed in which the metallocene contains at least one indenyl ligand, the indenyl ligand containing at least one halogenated substituent, such as a fluorinated substituent. These metallocene compounds and catalyst compositions can produce polyethylene having unexpectedly low levels of short chain branching.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Eric J. Haschke
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Patent number: 10927053Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for oligomerizing an olefin feedstock containing C4 to C20 alpha olefins using a catalyst system containing a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a suspension of a chemically-treated solid oxide. The liquid medium for the suspension of the chemically-treated solid oxide can be an alpha-olefin oligomer product formed by the oligomerization process.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke, Pasquale Iacono
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Publication number: 20210032779Abstract: Disclosed herein are high melt flow polypropylene homopolymers generally characterized by a melt flow rate ranging from 200 g/10 min to 3000 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn ranging from 2 to 5, and a peak melting point ranging from 138° C. to 151° C. These polypropylene homopolymers can be produced by catalyst systems containing a racemic ansa-bis(indenyl)zirconocene compound, an activator-support, and an organoaluminum co-catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke
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Patent number: 10883197Abstract: Disclosed herein are high melt flow polypropylene homopolymers generally characterized by a melt flow rate ranging from 200 g/10 min to 3000 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn ranging from 2 to 5, and a peak melting point ranging from 138° C. to 151° C. These polypropylene homopolymers can be produced by catalyst systems containing a racemic ansa-bis(indenyl)zirconocene compound, an activator-support, and an organoaluminum co-catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke
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Publication number: 20190256441Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for oligomerizing an olefin feedstock containing C4 to C20 alpha olefins using a catalyst system containing a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a suspension of a chemically-treated solid oxide. The liquid medium for the suspension of the chemically-treated solid oxide can be an alpha-olefin oligomer product formed by the oligomerization process.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke, Pasquale Iacono
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Patent number: 10344106Abstract: Disclosed herein are dual catalyst compositions containing an unbridged metallocene compound, a bridged metallocene compound, a chemically-treated solid oxide, and an optional co-catalyst. These catalyst compositions can be used for the oligomerization of propylene to produce an oligomer product. For example, a heavy propylene oligomer can be recovered from the oligomer product, and the heavy propylene oligomer can be characterized by a high flash point and viscosity index, and a low pour point.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Uriah J. Kilgore, Eric J. Haschke
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Patent number: 10336663Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for oligomerizing an olefin feedstock containing C4 to C20 alpha olefins using a catalyst system containing a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a suspension of a chemically-treated solid oxide. The liquid medium for the suspension of the chemically-treated solid oxide can be an alpha-olefin oligomer product formed by the oligomerization process.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke, Pasquale Iacono
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Publication number: 20190077727Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for oligomerizing an olefin feedstock containing C4 to C20 alpha olefins using a catalyst system containing a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a suspension of a chemically-treated solid oxide. The liquid medium for the suspension of the chemically-treated solid oxide can be an alpha-olefin oligomer product formed by the oligomerization process.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke, Pasquale Iacono
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Publication number: 20180194879Abstract: Disclosed herein are dual catalyst compositions containing an unbridged metallocene compound, a bridged metallocene compound, a chemically-treated solid oxide, and an optional co-catalyst. These catalyst compositions can be used for the oligomerization of propylene to produce an oligomer product. For example, a heavy propylene oligomer can be recovered from the oligomer product, and the heavy propylene oligomer can be characterized by a high flash point and viscosity index, and a low pour point.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Uriah J. Kilgore, Eric J. Haschke